Religious tax exemptions cost U.S. $71.1 billion, report says

Tax breaks for religious institutions cost the United States at least $71.1 billion annually, according to a new report by Ryan T. Cragun, Stephanie Yeager and Desmond Vega of the Council for Secular Humanism. The real number is probably much higher, as it doesn't account for several more subsidies that yield probably billions more, such as capital gains exemptions or property taxes not paid to states, according to the number-crunchers. They were prepared for the criticism that religious institutions are considered de facto charities, and spend a hefty amount of time trying to disassemble it. We're not getting involved, but man, $71.1 billion is a lot of $100 government hammers.